(December 26, 2011) Yet Another U.S. Congressman Calls For Free And Fair Elections And Peaceful Transition Of Power / 眾議員呼籲台灣選舉以不受干擾的方式舉行並和平轉移政權

Yet Another U.S. Congressman Calls For Free And Fair Elections And Peaceful Transition Of Power

In a recent letter to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ), called for free, fair, and open elections in Taiwan on January 14th 2012, political neutrality by the U.S. Administration, and a peaceful transition following the election.

On December 15th 2011, Rep. Robert Andrews wrote: “As Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has rightly articulated, no party in Taiwan has a monopoly on good relations with the U.S., and our government will work closely and cooperatively with whoever is elected.”

Andrews added: “As we look forward to congratulating the people of Taiwan on the successful completion of another election, I think it is also wise to remind ourselves that the true mark of a mature and consolidated democracy is its ability to carry out a peaceful transfer of power in the event of a victory by the opposition.”

In response, FAPA President Dr. Bob Yang, Ph.D. states: “These recent letters from Members of Congress demonstrate that there is genuine and widespread concern in Congress about the need to guard against potential attempts to undermine the integrity of the ongoing election campaign and the voting process, and to interfere with a peaceful transfer of power after the election in the event of a victory by the opposition party in Taiwan.”

Next month, Taiwan will be conducting combined national elections. On January 14, 2012, the people of Taiwan will go to the polls to choose the next leader of their country.

Remarkably, it was a mere 16 years ago that Taiwanese voters cast their ballots to directly elect a president for the first time. Persevering through decades of martial law, the Taiwanese people have managed in one generation to transform a virtual police state into a vibrant and open society, governed by free institutions and the rule of law. This serves as a beacon of hope to people in every region of the world aspiring to break free from autocracy.

The closely contested electoral campaign currently playing out in Taiwan speaks to the success of Taiwan’s democratic transition. As the United States continues engaging with our longtime friend and ally across many areas of mutual interest and cooperation, I hope you will work to ensure that the Administration projects the strictest degree of political neutrality with regard to Taiwan’s upcoming election, so as not to inadvertently influence the outcome with its words or actions. As Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has rightly articulated: “No party in Taiwan has a monopoly on good relations with the U.S., and our government will work closely and cooperatively with whoever is elected.”

We in the United States Congress will also be watching closely to make sure that the elections are carried out in a manner that is free, fair, and transparent, and that there are no attempts by actors either within or outside of Taiwan to undermine the integrity of the democratic process. We strongly support the right of the Taiwanese people to choose their own leader free from coercion.

Moreover, as we look forward to congratulating the people of Taiwan on the successful completion of another election, I think it is also wise to remind ourselves that the true mark of a mature and consolidated democracy is its ability to carry out a peaceful transfer of power in the event of a victory by the opposition. We are confident that the Taiwanese people will continue finding ways to resolve differences of opinion within the established rules of democratic discourse.

America is strengthened when the values of our founding fathers are more prevalent around the world. We commend the people of Taiwan for their democratic spirit, and we wish them the best as they prepare to take this next step on the path toward perfecting a democratic consensus about the future of their country.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely yours,

ROBERT ANDREWS
Member of Congress

(December 26, 2011) Yet Another U.S. Congressman Calls For Free And Fair Elections And Peaceful Transition Of Power / 眾議員呼籲台灣選舉以不受干擾的方式舉行並和平轉移政權